While updating my biography of Thomas Nast, I set up a Google alert.  A Google alert prompts an email notification when Google finds new information about the topic or person you are interested in. A few days after creating the alert, I received an email with information about an article published on seacoastonline.com about Thomas Nast.

While renovating their home in Exeter, New Hampshire, a couple found a poster nailed to a wall advertising a lecture Nast gave on the evening of October 8, 1873.  During a seven month lecture tour, Nast spoke at the Exeter Lyceum.

The article mentioned a review published about Nast’s appearance in the Exeter News-Letter newspaper in 1873.  The article raved about Nast’s presentation.  “Mr. Nast’s lecture was both entertaining and instructive, and his….accent gave perhaps additional relish to the good things it contained.”  The article also noted that Nast used color chalk and a large easel to illustrate his talk.

The article gave me new information.  I suspected Nast had a German accent but never found information to confirm it.  Evidently, he had a very distinct accent.  The fact, he used colored chalk in his presentation and spoke about creating caricatures was another new discovery.

Even though I write historical biographies, current information can surface that will help me update my books and Google Alerts is great way to obtain the information.

TIP:  Setting up a Google alert for you name will keep you informed when your name or books are publicized.